Highlights this week…
- City Council …considering acquiring land to access bridge over Charles River by Christina Street
- Election Day …polls open Tuesday, 7AM-8PM (voter info)
- All Schools …closed on Tuesday (Election Day) for Thrive24, a day of NPS professional development
- Programs and Services …discussing NPS investigation of transitioning to electric school buses
- Public Safety and Transportation …considering $1.8 million for a new ladder truck and $1 million for PFAS-free gear for firefighters
- Cooper Center for Active Living …monthly Community Update Meeting on Tuesday
City Council
City Council will meet on Monday and is expected to vote on the following (see Reports Docket):
- Appropriating $1,841,719 for a CPA grant to the Newton Affordable Housing Trust for FY25 funding
- Acquiring land by Christina Street to access a new shared-use path bridge over the Charles River for $430,000
- Expending $29,056 for an RRFB pedestrian crossing signal at Lowell Avenue at Page Road
- Appropriating $17,500 in CPA funding for Phase II of the Midcentury Architectural Survey
- Accepting a $53,015 grant for traffic safety enforcement overtime and safety equipment
- Approving:
- Constructing three attached single-family dwellings in two separate buildings at 56 Chapel Street
- Expanding existing driveway for two parking stalls with additional parking stall within five feet of the front lot line at 31 Chase Street
- Constructing a dormer at 67 Chester Street
- Demolishing an existing dwelling and constructing four single-family attached dwellings at 51 Oak Avenue
- Converting an existing attached garage into living space and constructing additional parking stalls at 140 Derby Street
- Extending time to:
- Exercise special permit for an elder housing facility at Crafts Street and Court Street
- Construct an attached garage with two stories of living space above it at rear of 255 Jackson Street
- Amend the site plan for additional paved parking area at 1349 Centre Street
- Appointing Jennifer Pucci to Zoning Board of Appeals, and JP Nahmias and Patrick Moriarty to the Financial Audit Advisory Committee and Alexander Lee to the Sustainable Materials Management Commission
- Reappointing Antonio Bianchi as a Constable, Alan Gordon to the Sustainable Materials Management Commission, Sam Figler to Newton Commonwealth Foundation, and Michelle Freshman to the Health and Human Services Advisory Council
The New Docket includes the following:
- Public hearing, November 12:
- Allow exceedance of FAR at 16 Chaske Avenue
- Allow six attached single-family dwellings and parking waivers at 329-331 River Street and 335 River Street
- Public hearing, November 19:
- Restaurant with more than 50 seats and waive 11 parking stalls at 30-34 Langley Road
- Four attached single-family dwellings at 640 Watertown Street
- Three attached single-family dwellings, waive lot coverage, area, side and rear setback requirements, and parking in the front setback and a retaining wall exceeding four feet at 15 Algonquin Road
- Extending time to convert a nonconforming two-family dwelling into single-family dwellings at 373 Lexington Street
- Class 2 Auto Dealer Licenses: Regans, Newton Auto Group, Newton Centre Shell, Jacob & Associates, Velocity Motors, Stan’s Automotive d/b/a Newton Automotive and Sales, Map Development & Investments d/b/a Christian Tapia/Master Used Cars, Newton Trace Center Associates, Grand Auto Sales d/b/a KG Motors LLV
- Appointing Lori Yarvis to the Economic Development Commission
- Appropriating:
- $2,000,000 for the NPS Educational Stabilization Fund
- $700,000 for Newton North High School Capital Projects
- $338,119 for McKinney-Vento Homeless Student Transportation
- $43,189 to Newton Public Schools from textile recycling revenues
- $1,800,000 for Fire Ladder Truck 3 replacement
- $1,000,000 for PFAS-free firefighter gear
- $50,000 for Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) bottles
- $75,000 for Fire Shift Commander’s vehicle replacement
- $1,000,000 for the Vehicle Replacement Program
- $775,000 for municipal building maintenance projects
- $225,000 for Fire and Police security camera and access control improvements
- $200,000 for FY25 traffic calming projects
- Grant of Location for National Grid to install and maintain gas main under Beacon Street
- Discussions:
- Field use regulations at Newton South High School
- Bullough’s Pond Dam Rehabilitation Project
- Hancock Estates easement for walking trail access
Programs and Services will meet on Wednesday to consider:
- Accepting a Grant of Easement from Hancock Estates LLC for walking trail access
- Semi-annual updates from the School Committee and Newton Public Schools
- NPS investigation into transitioning school buses to electric powered vehicles
- Appropriating $2,000,000 to the NPS Educational Stabilization Fund
- Appropriating $338,119 to NPS for FY24 McKinney-Vento Homeless Student Transportation
Public Safety and Transportation will meet on Wednesday to consider appropriating:
- $1,000,000 for one set of PFAS-free firefighter gear for each Newton Firefighter
- $75,000 for a new Shift Commander Vehicle in the Fire Department
- $1,800,000 for a new Fire Ladder Truck 3
Public Facilities [UPDATE: This meeting has been canceled and rescheduled for December 4.]will meet on Wednesday to consider:
- Grants of location to install and maintain gas mains in Beacon Street, Centre Street, Walnut Street, Washington Street, and Canterbury Road
- Appropriating $1,000,000 to support the Vehicle Replacement Program
- Appropriating $200,000 to support FY25 Traffic Calming projects
School Committee
School Committee will meet on Monday with an agenda including:
- Superintendent Update
- Newton Schools Foundation presentation
- Introduction – Dan Green, Principal, Bigelow Middle School
- Consent Agenda
- Grant(s)
- Gift/Donation from William James College to Franklin Elementary School
- Field Trips
- Newton Schools Foundation Donation
- Action Items/Discussions/Updates/Votes
- NNHS Equipment Room Naming Request
- Preliminary Enrollment Report
- Fiscal and Ops FY2025 Q1 Report including High School athletics and Newton Community Ed
- ELL Staffing Needs
- FY2025 School Calendar
- Private School Busing
- FY 2026 Budget Guidelines
Schools will be closed on Tuesday (Election Day) for Thrive24, a day of NPS professional development.
Boards and Commissions
Planning and Development Board will meet on Monday to consider amendments to the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Ordinance and upcoming meeting dates.
Fair Housing Committee will meet on Wednesday to consider (see Meeting Documents):
- Consolidated Plan 2026-2030
- Fair Housing Training
- MBTA Communities Act
- 40B Project Update
- Subcommittee Updates: Lottery Results & Lease-ups, Membership & Nominating, Fair Housing Award
- Fair Housing Committee Priorities
WestMetro Home Consortium will meet on Thursday to consider:
- Consolidated Pool and CHDO RFPs: Draft RFP review
- FY26-FY30 Consolidated Plan: Update and schedule
- HOME Monitoring & Subrecipient Monitoring
- Fair Housing Testing Program
Farm Commission will meet on Thursday to consider:
- Farm & Field Operations
- Financials Q3, 2024
- Fall Family Party and Other Events
- Buildings, Grounds, and Infrastructure Issues
- 2025 Foreseen Issues
Newton Highlands Neighborhood Area Council will meet on Thursday to consider:
- Christina Street Bridge land acquisition
- Astronomy Night – possible expenditure
- Village Enhancement Project
- Regulation of signs on Walnut Street MBTA bridge
City Departments
Development Review Team will meet this week regarding the following potential projects/proposals:
- 1349 Centre Street: Allow tandem parking and reduced stall depth
- 7 Hereward Road: Install one free-standing sign, nonilluminated at the driveway entrance
Newton Parks, Recreation, and Culture will host a Memorial Park Community Meeting on Thursday.
Planning Department will meet on Thursday to consider:
- Administrative Site Plan Review (ASPR) process by City staff
- Athletic Support Building project proposal at 825 Centre Street by Boston College
Other
Community Update Meeting for Cooper Center for Active Living on Tuesday, November 5 at 6PM (Zoom link).
This week’s road construction schedule